Cannot import edited Registry hive

@sabastian42
@garlin gave you the correct answer. Personally, I always use PowerRun when dealing with registry since most system registry keys are owned by Trusted Installer.
If you want to delete a registry key:

1. export the key to a .reg file, use notepad to edit and place a '-' right after the [ bracket.
2. Open PowerRun then drop the .reg file to its windows
3. Double click on the file to run it, or hi-lite it then click on Run Button on the top left to execute it.

This should work unless the registry key is locked by some other process which you have to turn off for it to work.


IMO. never, never change permission on any registry key.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Systemkey]

This will delete systemkey and everything under systemkey

Topgunbdcp - Thanks. This thread has had several different suggestions; I've now found the WinPe one to not fulfill its promise, so I'm looking more closely at yours.
1. 'Export the key to a reg file' You had started to talk about PowerRun, but I presume you mean export from Regedit.
Notepad allows me to delete the unwanted entries in the reg file - why should I take the '-' route ?

PowerRun gives me the same response as WinPe - Error accessing Registry




SIW2 - #40 - I have finally managed to 'practice what you preach', but the obstacle is still there : "Cannot import the reg file; error accessing the registry."

This is how regedit works. Using Notepad to edit so you can put a dash then use PowerRun to merge it back to the registry, that is to instruct regedit to delete the key.

Sebastian42 said:

Notepad allows me to delete the unwanted entries in the reg file - why should I take the '-' route ?

That seems to be for future reference.
You might use .reg files to augment existing Registry entries rather than, as now, completely replacing a hive.
Being able to delete a Key with the - prefix can be quite useful.


Denis